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Learn how to make this 10-minute school lunch idea and keep the bread crunchy until lunchtime!
Grilled Sandwich with Turkey and Cheese
As a busy working mom always looking for easy and tasty school lunch ideas, I know what success looks like: kids are back from school, I open their lunchboxes and there’s nothing there, just a few crumbs, clapping at me because kids devoured their lunch.
That’s what happens when you pack this epic grilled turkey sandwich following all my tips! Delicious lunches like this one help you pack a nutritious homemade meal that you can pull together in 10 minutes with 4 everyday ingredients. That’s mom’s success too!
A sandwich lunch is great, but a grilled crispy turkey sandwich with melted cheese is AMAZING! And I’ll tell you all the hacks to keep crispiness intact until lunchtime.
What you need
Go and grab all the ingredients because I know you have them around:
- Sandwich bread: your favorite.
- Butter: for grilling. You can also use spray.
- Cheese: Cheddar, Swiss, Gouda, or Provolone goes great with turkey.
- Deli turkey: any sliced deli turkey you typically purchase.
Make next: This nostalgic Bologna and Cheese Sandwich
How to Pack Grilled Turkey Sandwich for School
You are just 10 minutes away from this epic Grilled Turkey Sandwich! Here’s how to make turn it into a packed lunch:
- Make the sandwich
You place the bread over a flat surface and butter one side of each slice. Add cheese on each unbuttered side, then add the turkey and close the sandwich. Make sure that the buttered sides are facing out. - Grill
Now, you grease a non-stick skillet with butter and grill each sandwich for about 2 to 3 minutes until it's golden and the cheese has begun to melt on that side. - Flip
You flip the sandwiches and grill on the other side for 1 or 2 minutes until it's golden and crispy and the cheese is melted. - Pack it for lunch
If you don’t serve the sandwich immediately, allow it to cool down before packing it in the lunch box. Then, add your favorite lunch box sides in separate compartments of the lunch box or containers.
More Tips for Packing Grilled Sandwiches for School
Now that you are about to make this epic school lunch idea, follow these pro tips to pack this grilled turkey sandwich in the lunchbox so everything stays fresh:
Allow it to cool down
If you pack the sandwich warm, the steam will make the bread soggy. Wait until it is completely cool and pack it.
Use a firm container
Plastic bags don’t protect our sandwiches as we want. The best way to pack this lunch is in a sturdy sandwich-size container so it stays neat in the lunch bag. Here are my top picks for lunch containers.
Add more nutrition
Following the tip above, pack this sandwich with your favorite veggies and fruits, like cherry tomatoes, snap peas, baby carrots, bell pepper strips, berries, grapes, apples, sliced cucumber, etc. More great additions? A hard-boiled egg, egg cups, almonds, olives, crackers, and the list goes on!
Pack wet sides separately
When packing fruit, veggies, or other school lunch sides, place them in a separate container or compartment of the lunchbox. This way, the turkey grilled sandwich will not absorb any moisture.
Grilled Turkey Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices sandwich bread
- 1 tablespoon butter, for grilling
- 4 slices Cheddar cheese
- 2 ounces deli turkey
Instructions
Make the sandwich:
- Place the sliced bread on a flat surface. Butter one side of each slice and flip over. Place a slice of cheese on each unbuttered side. Layer the turkey slices onto 2 slices. Assemble the sandwiches, making sure the buttered sides are facing out.
Grill:
- Grease a medium non-stick skillet and heat over medium-high heat. One at a time, grill each sandwich for about 2 to 3 minutes until it's golden and the cheese has begun to melt on that side. Flip the sandwich and grill on the other side for another minute or 2 until it's golden and crispy and the cheese is melted.
Serve or pack:
- Serve immediately, or, to pack in a lunchbox, wait for the sandwich to cool to room temperature before packing inside a lunch container.
- If packing for lunch, add the veggies and additional snacks to the container, but place them in separate compartments to keep the sandwich bread dry.
Anna says
This was amazing.
Sylvia says
Thanks for sharing all these tips for packing grilled sandwiches for lunch. Very useful!
Mary says
This sandwich tastes like something out of a Jason’s deli. Loved the sandwich and so did my daughter.
Clara says
Thank you for the packing tips! This ways my kid can enjoy this sandwich as a school lunch.
Natalia says
Yum! This Grilled Turkey Sandwich was amazing, I made this for my daughter and I and it turned out great! Thanks for sharing this recipe.